Shoe-tree.



BATENLBD Ama, 1905.

l we'.v BENKERT.

vSHOE TREE.v APPL-IQATION FILED AUG. 9. 1902.

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v UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. BENKERT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNO'R TOV Patented April 4, 1905.

CHARLES E. SCHMIDT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,783, dated April 4,1905.

Application filed August 9, 1902. Serial No. 118,993.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I,WILLIAM C. BENKERT, of

the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improvement in Shoe-Trees,of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to shoe-trees; and it consists of certainimprovements fully set forth in the following specification and shown inthe accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

, The object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive constructionof shoe expander or tree adapted to hold the shoe in a stretchedcondition when not in use or for purposes of flattening the sole andremoving creasesfrom the upper, the said tree havingcapacity ofadjustment and ventilation.

In carrying out my invention I combine a toe and instep portion ortoe-piece with a jointed heel-piece, the joint being of such nature thatit acts to stretch and flatten the shoe. In my preferred constructionthe toe and instep portion or toe-piece is connected with a toggle by anadjustable connection, desirably a screw-threaded stud screwing into alug in the toe-piece and to which stud the toggle is jointed.

My invention also comprehends a construction of toe and instepv portionor toe-piecel which is provided with a perforation or perforations forthe purpose of allowing free ventilation.

lMy invention consists, further, in details of construction which,together with the abovespecified features, will be better understood byreference tothe drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of ashoe-tree with part in section embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a planview of same. Fig. '3 is a cross-section of the joint of the toggle online 3 8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a modified form of an adjustableconnection between the toe-piece and toggle, and Fig. 5 is a sectionalelevation of a modification in the adjustment between the toggle andtoe-piece.

A is a toe-piece and is made hollow upon the under side and providedwith a downwardlycondition.

extending lug B at the middle and upper end of the rear part. Screwedinto this lug is a stud C, to which is hinged at E the toggle D. Theouter or free end of the toggle is provided with the heel-piece F. Thetoggle consists of two arms M and K, hinged together at P andrespectively having upwardly-extending lugs J I, meeting to limit thedownward movement of the parts M K. Preferably these lugs are soarranged that the arms M K are capable of taking a slight angle, asshown in Fig. l, when brought to a locked position. These lugs extendupwardly practically at right angles to the length of the arms M- K, andhence are immediately above the joint P. The jointP is cheaply made bycasting a hole in the arm M and casting a pin on the other arm. K, whichis then loosely riveted to the hole, as shown in Fig. 3. To

depress the toggle when stretching the shoe and to avoid pinching thelinger, I provide aA thumb-piece H as an extension of one of the lugs JI, its location being above the hinge.

It is of course immaterial to which of the arms M K this thumb-piece. issecured. There is no adjustment in the toggle D for accommodation toshoes of different lengths; but such adjustment is secured by thescrew-stud C, having capacity for being screwed into or outof the lug onthe toe-piece.

The instep portion A is provided with aseries of Ventilating-aperturesL, as shown in' Figs. 1 and 2, or with a single large opening L', asshown in Fig. 4:. The object of these Ventilating-apertures is to enablethe shoe to be properly ventilated while held in a stretched It isimmaterial to my invention what form of apertures are employed in theinstep portion or toe-piece, as these maybe varied to suit themanufacturer.

rlhe parts CA M 'K may be jointed by any suitable hinge-joint; butforcheapness I prefer to cast an aperture in one of the parts and a pin onthe other part, which after being malleableized is riveted over, asindicated, to hold the parts together. In this manner all expensive workis avoided.

In place of the screw-stud (l for obtaining the adjustment I may employan adjustable plate U, as indicated in Fig. 4. In this ease the plate Cis slotted and is clamped in position by a thumb-screw N, extendingthrough the slot in the plate and screwing upwardly into the metal orbody of the toe-piece. To insure vthe plate C holding its position inthe toe-piece, I prefer to form its upper surface with fine teeth, whicheoact with corresponding teeth on the toe-piece portion A, as indicatedat B. In this manner the plate C may be adjusted upon the part A ortoe-piece to suit requirements. Any other suitable means of adjustingthe hinge connection E relatively to the'part A may be employed in lieuof this joint. It is also evident that while the part A is preferablymade of cast metal it may be formed of wood or other material, if sopreferred.

To permit easy adjustment when the instep portion or toe piece A is inthe shoe, the screw-stud may be set obliquely, as shown in Fig. 5, inwhich case by turning the toggle in the direction of the solid lines thescrewstud may be rotated while the tree is in the shoe.

It will be observed that in my device the heel-piece and the instepportion or toe-piece are connected with a screw adjustment, which is animportant feature of my invention. It is also evident that if the partsM K were held in rigid alinement and swung down with the heel part thestretching action would result. Hence the toggle may in some cases beomitted, if desired.

While I prefer the construction shown, the

details may be modied without departing from the spirit of my invention.I Having now described my invention, what I 1 claim as new, and desireto secu re by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a shoe expander or tree, the combination of the toe-piece andtoggle consisting of two arms hinged together the free end of one ofsaid arms being provided with a heel-piece,

an extensible hinge connection between the free end of the other arm ofthe toggle and the toe-piece consisting of a screw-threaded stud hingedto the toggle-arm and adjustably screwed into the toe-piece, two stopsor lugs respectively formed on the two arms ol the toggle and extendingvertically upward above the hinge of the toggle to limit its downwardmovement, a thumb piece or button arranged above the hinge and lugs andsecured to one arm of the toggle so as to protect the hand in depressingthe toggle.

2. In ashoe expander or tree, the combination of the toe-piece andtoggle consisting oi two long rigid arms hinged together the free end ofone of said arms being provided with a heel-piece, two stops or lugsrespectively formed on the two arms ot' the toggle and extendingvertically upward above the hinge of the toggle to limit its downwardmovement, a thumb piece or button arranged upon the hinge and lugs andsecured to one of the arms so as to protect the hand in depressing thetoggle, and an extensible connection between the free end of thetoggle-arm and the toepiece consisting of a rigid part hinged to thefree end ot' the toggle and adjustably secured to the toe-piece.

In testimony of which invention fl have hereunto set my hand.

MTM. C. BENKERT. R. M. HUNTER, R. M. KELLY.

